Day 531 ~ The Blessed Spoon's First Campaign

!!WOW!!

Such a surreal experience.  

The last twenty-four hours leading up to delivering the ten Turkey Trot baskets to their respective families was an absolutely amazing expeirence!!

From collecting all the donations, figuring out quantities and making the shopping list, to all the price comparisons. . . not to mention all the strategizing implemented to use all donations wisely.

Then came shopping and delivery day!

My first stop was a meeting at 7:30 in the morning to pick up all ten turkeys!  This in itself was an exillirating experience!  All ten turkeys donated!  Thank you!! 

Throughout this campaign there have been "little miracles" (l.m.) strengthening my faith more and more, reassuring me that I was doing the right thing... for example if it wasn't for my envolvement in a project for my church I would have never met our turkey donor.  lm #1.

My first stop after picking up all the turkeys was Sprouts.  What a great store.  Our only health/organic store in all of El Paso!  That's right, no Trader Joe's or Whole Foods!  Even with Whole Foods being from Austin, TX...  That's ok  we have SPROUTS!!  And what a great store!!  The gave me a ton of food!!  Ok nearly a ton.. wink, wink.  Sprouts donated all the stuffing, turkey pans, yams, marshmallows, brown sugar, pineapple, cranberry sauce and 25 grocery bags.  Thank you Sprouts!!  You all rock!! 

After shopping at Sprouts, I was able to regroup, see what was left and off I went to Walmart.  Walmart donated two $50 gift cards from two different stores to help with The Blessed Spoon's first campaign.. Needless to say the bulk of the groceries were purchased here... milk, butter, flour, potatoes, green beans, mushrooms soup, fried onions, and rolls.  

The journey throughout this campaign has been and continues to be AMAZING!!  Everything came so easy for me and The Blessed Spoon.  It was as if God was rolling out the red carpet for me each day as I accomplished something or was about to tackle something.

Before I knew it. . .  it was 4:00 pm I was leaving Albertson's with 10 pumpkin pies and I was on my way back home with a car load of food!!

Honestly, it was an exciting day!!  Even when we started taking inventory, making food piles, and packing all the food!  We picked out our first set of 10 spoons going out with their Certificates of Authentication, planned our route . . .

. . . and were out the door at 9:00pm.

A happy Happy Thanksgiving going out to 10 "Blessed" families!!

I am thankful for having the opportunity and smarts to be able to to this for everyone!!

What's coming up?   Hmmm.... 
I think I see another challenge off in the near distance. . .

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

I am second..

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 522 ~ It's In the Air

"It's" in the air.  

{BIG SMILE}

Yes . . . the season of giving is in the air.  Can you feel it?   I can.

I love how everyone starts getting in "the spirit".

From here until the first week, maybe second or so, of January everyone is kinder.  Well except in the shopping mall parking lots!  LOL!!    Or does it seem that way?  

Is it that people seem kinder because you start hearing "Merry Christmas" or a "Happy Holidays" of some sort?  Or is it that the same people who normally say a "kind hello" are now saying something different and it just seems like everyone is kinder?

Whatever it may be. . .  I don't know about you, but I love it when "It's" in the air. 

I am thankful for kindness!

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

I am second..

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 396 ~ I Am Second Challenge Day 16 of 22

This is Day 16 of my challenge... {and} my sixteenth video... [finally!]

... Stephen Baldwin... It's hard to believe that his popularity soared when Bio-Dome and Half Baked came out in the 90s... and let's not forget his stint as Barney in The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas ...  my boys loved watching these movies back in the day... and yes, I admit sitting right alongside.  lol!


Fast forward twelve years... he has appeared on shows like Larry King, 20/20, being interviewed by Barbara Walters professing his love for God and his Christianity.

Stephen Baldwin: I am Second

I am not about to tell you that this is my plan... not at all.  


However, I should take a moment to say to some of my friends {who have known me forever}... 


I realize that all this (my talking about my seeking for a relationship with God) may seem weird coming from me.. Only because I never have expressed too much interest.  


Now I did go to a Christian school through second grade and then fourth, fifth and sixth (I think) I attended a Catholic school... even so, I never had a real, sincere relationship with God.  Everything {religion} was forced on me and not really explained (Catholic service back in the day was Latin... exactly!  I had no clue what was being said.)


Just as Stephen did, I have also been searching for my own true self... for a sincere relationship with God... for God to use me for his work.  I want to be a better person... I want to feel better... I want to do good...  I want to help others...  


Isn't is said, "it is better to give than to receive"?

We are Second when we put Jesus First. Seconds are bold to lift up Jesus and tell others. Are you ready to become a stronger Second?

I challenge YOU to take the I Am Second [22] Day Challenge... Can you spare maybe fifteen minutes in a day?

In every way I showed you that by working hard like this we can help those who are weak. We must remember what the Lord Jesus said, ‘We are more happy when we give than when we receive.’ ~Acts 20:35 (NIV)

I AM SECOND.

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  


Happy Birthday Addison!!  I love you son.  You mean the world to me.

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 198 ~ Enjoying My Snow Day

What a day! ... Just finished wrapping a ton of gifts.  Do not ask me how I ended up with a ton of them, because it wasn't like I did a bunch of shopping.  Okay, and money does come into play as well- not like we had a ton of it laying around either.  

Doesn't matter how you look at it, I feel blessed that we even have some gifts under our tree.

Then there's tomorrow... I just finished my plan on what I need to get done tomorrow... and it is not pretty!  

I have the line up of all the cookies Calley and I will be making tomorrow.  Comes out to be around fourteen dozen.  Yes I said fourteen!  But, I am only making about six or so different kinds... my famous oatmeal/raisin/pecan cookies, my signature cinnamon roll cookies (I will not be sharing this recipe, just sayin'), turtle cookie bars, and fudge.  I know fudge is not a cookie, however I am making it.  A Christmas time must.  I know there's one or two more, but I do not want to get up to get my to do list.

Why am I making so many?  Well, it's the ultimate gift this time of year.  Right up my alley.  Which means, that I will enjoy baking and cooking with Calley most the day; giving treats is easy on the pocket; and it spreads love and joy.  What a great way to give and spread cheer!  

Oh, and I haven't even mentioned what I am dreading to do on my list and have tried my best all week to avoid... going to the store tomorrow!  Y-I-K-E-S!!!  I discovered that I need just a few more stocking stuffers.. just a bit shy.  Darn Christmas stockings!  (don't want the stockings to be all skinny!)  Oh and I need just a tad more butter and sugar for the baking.

AY! That's not the half of it... We woke up to snow this morning, which does not happen every year in western Texas, let alone at Christmas time.  So Lord knows what the roads will be like in the morning.  Ideally, I would love to be at Target right when the doors open, and then hit Sam's on the way back home, stopping only for dog food.

Question of the hour... What will the weather bring us tonight?  How will it affect my morning?  (I know that was two questions, not like I'm in the 9 items or less line)  Goal is to be back home by 9am... What do you think?  Whatever way it goes, I will have fun and be safe.  After all it is Christmas Eve tomorrow, which only brings more festivities in the Karam family.

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.    - Burton Hillis

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

...   ten years of music

...   nine cousins playing

...   eight years of lovin' 

...   seven days of singing

...   six months of blogging
...   five rooms plus more

...   four loving dogs

...   three cook books

...   two ceiling fans 

...   our little girl, we call Calley

Blessings to all!!

167 days to go...

PS... I love and miss you boys.  To the moon and stars above and back.  You are my sunshines.

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied.  All accounts herein are written by Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life.  Some names may be changed to protect the innocent or protect me from the guilty.  (just kidding...wink, wink)

Picture credits... images courtesy of Bing images.

Day 191 ~ The Gift of Christmas

WHAT?!?  Eight days until Christmas and counting!?   Aiy!  I am so NOT ready for Christmas this year!

It is amazing on how having a little money makes a difference in being ready for Christmas, or not!.  And being that we have been struggling each month to get all the bills paid, does not prove well.  Luckily, I have gotten Calley a few little gifts... and between that, my in laws, and a few other people, I think she will be very well taken care of.

I am trying to come up with a little project for Calley and I.  One to give her a life lesson in Christmas giving.  Hmmmm  I think we can make some of our delicious cookies and drop them off at the Post Office as a thank you.  Hmmmm.  That's a start.  (Big smile.)

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!  ~Author Unknown

Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.  ~ Oren Arnold 

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 

...   three cook books

...   two ceiling fans, 

...   our little girl we call Calley

Blessings to all!!

174 days weeks to go...

PS... I love and miss you boys.  To the moon and stars above and back.  You are my sunshines.

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied.  All accounts herein are written by Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life.  Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.

Picture credits... images courtesy of Bing images.